The Thai government is expected to announce on Friday that 18 provinces will be declared ‘red zones’ and under the highest COVID-19 controls.
Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, said that at a meeting on Thursday Thailand’s National Communicable Diseases Committee (NCDC) has agreed, in principle, to declare 18 provinces as ‘red zones’ and 59 other provinces as ‘orange zones’.
According to Daily News, the provinces to become red zones are:
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Phuket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Songkhla, Tak, Udon Thani, Suphanburi, Sa Kaeo, Rayong and Khon Kaen.
All other provinces will be orange zones.
In red zones, restaurants will be allowed to open but must close by 9pm or 11pm in the orange zone.
All other restrictions will largely be the same in either zone, such as schools closed and no alcohol in restaurants, while pubs, bars, karaoke and massage parlours will be closed.
People will be told to refrain from activities that involve large numbers of people and no parties should take place apart from family events (presumably means weddings, monk ordinations and funerals). No activities with more than 50 attendees will be permitted, while amusepark parks and attractions at malls, such as children’s play areas will also need to be closed.
However, according to Daily News, there will be no lockdown, although details regarding provincial travel restrictions will be confirmed on Friday (16 April).
(Source: – Thai Visa News)